Baton Rouge & New Orleans

I know. Super late update, so I hope I don't disappoint!


So on April 28th, N and I took a wee early 6am flight out. Totally worth the 2 hour nap and waking up at 3:30 am for. We arrived in Baton Rouge to D-Lady greeting us with what else but beads! She says, "in Hawaii you get lei'd, here you get beaded." First stop was meeting D-man for lunch at Casa Bonita er I meeeaannnn Casa Maria for lunch. This is worth mentioning because I don't honestly know how they serve chips and salsa anywhere else, but here in VA we are pretty pleased to get one small cup of salsa for our table... but oh no not at this casa. We each got our own cups of salsa! Yeah, awesome, right?!!



Then I got Empananadas



Both were delicious. The salsa had just the right amount of spice and the chips were fresh and crispy. I was pretty full by that time (being that N and I had already eaten 2 breakfasts and this was our third meal of the day at noon) but the beef empanadas were heavenly! I thought I was going to explode, I ate so much.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing and going to the Beef Jerky Outlet. Did you just do a double take? Yeah duh, the Beef Jerky Outlet... the one right next to Louisiana Discount Liquor, silly!



We also got to meet MIKE THE TIGER!!!! I freakin' love big scary mammals. For seriously, Mike was so cool! He'd just pace around his little habitat, probably wanting a little lady friend, and he'd roll around in the grass like a little kitten. I don't know if I've mentioned this yet, but MIKE WAS AWESOME!



At dinner, we went to Sammy's in Baton Rouge and all got fried chicken po boys. We also got to try some fried alligator. I will eat anything battered and deep fried.



They should probably fix this.



Now, I'm just going to skip to Jazz Fest because that honestly is all I really want to talk about right now. I love outdoor music festivals; they make for epic summers and basically if you don't already know, music is my life and blood. I always feel a sense of elation and such joy when I've got a tune in my ear and a beat in my heart... or rather the sound of a thumping bass vibrating against my chest. For me, this is heaven.



We didn't bother to arrive until the afternoon. That was a mistake, now we know for next time. It was PACKED, but we were right on time to scope out a spot on the grass and see Mumford & Sons. Unfortunately we were too far back to actually see them, so I have to resort to youtube for this portion of my post.



So, did you know Jake Gyllenhaal knows them? He apparently played trumpet or something with them on the last stop (New Orleans) of the RR Revival tour AND HE WAS HERE AND I DID NOT KNOW IT until we got back to VA. HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE!!! I missed my one chance with my soul mate! I might die. Okay, not really. I digress. He was backstage while the Avett Brothers were on. THE AVETT BROTHERS!!! I cannot express my love for this band in any number of words. I just love them oh so much. They are poets that strum on my heartstrings. Their lyrics evoke so much emotion and are sung with such power. I am bummed I could only see them from the big screen, but no worries, I will be close enough to see them sweat when I see them again this September! Anyways, Seth even pulled out his electric guitar and jammed the eff out to Kick Drum Heart. Amazing! They ended with Will You Return and encored with Talk on Indolence. Swoooooonnnnn!!!

Ah sweet brotherly love.


Another from youtube



Two more things, then I'm done. The Abita brewery. Go there. The tour is free. You walk in, they hand you a cup, and tell you to go at it. The taps are lined up against the wall and you just serve yourself for an entire hour. Best one I had there was the the Double IPA.



And last but most certainly not least - Oak Alley! My other great love, aside from giant man-eating mammals and ear-splitting festivals, are TREES. Oak Alley was really exactly all of my dreams coming true. And as if it couldn't possibly get any better, we got mint juleps at the end of the tour. HELLO BOURBON! Another great love. I am just full of LOVE. The kind that makes you weep, the kind where a little part of you dies when you think about it, but then blossoms into something so much more fulfilling that you feel as though you will burst from sheer happiness.



So, did I have a good time? Um, yes. That would be a most definite yes! And I think little baby Mawissa did too, yes? I'm glad I got to be a part of her very first concert ever! I think she and Aunt S are going to be great concert buddies super soon.


N is drinking a VIRGIN mint julep, for all those concerned with such things

Also, I just thought I'd throw this in here. This is kind of a foreign sight for most of you. D-man, being from NY and all sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle after all these years. Well, here is proof that he drives! And has his own car! Whoa!